Troy Mayor Janice Daniels relieved' to be recalled

The morning after election day has a different feel for Janice Daniels this year.

One year ago, Daniels was elected mayor of Troy in a surprise decision. This year, she has been recalled.

“I am relieved from the crushing, relentless, merciless abuse that has been heaped upon me for one year now, just because I won an election that the has-been power brokers in this town didn’t expect to lose,” Daniels said in a phone interview Wednesday morning.

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With all 31 precincts reported, Troy voters elected to oust the embattled mayor, 20,763 to 18,993.

Past reports stated that Daniels would remain mayor for a brief period, as she is entitled to a recount, but Daniels said she is no longer in power.

“I’m out,” she said.

“I wouldn’t care to (have a recount or appeal the decision). The people have spoken, and I am very honored to have been the mayor for a year. It was a fascinating opportunity for me to sit at the legislative table and try to represent the people who voted me into office in the first place. I love the role of outreach to the business community and the residents. It was absolutely wonderful.”

Officials were working out the mechanics of the recall Wednesday morning. The first keyin the process — during which Troy could see four different mayors in a calendar year — is for Oakland County Board of Canvassers to certify the election results.

Once that occurs, Mayor Pro Tem Maureen McGinnis will be sworn in during a “very informal” ceremony in the city clerk’s office, according to Troy City Attorney Lori Grigg Bluhm.

But McGinnis’ mayoral tenure will be brief.

“The current city council rules of procedure call for the appointment of a new mayor pro tem at the first meeting after the election,” Bluhm said.

Councilman Dane Slater is up next in the rotation, and he will serve until a new mayor is appointed by the council within 30 days, while McGinnis will go back to being a city councilwoman.

If the appointee is a current member of city council, they’ll have to resign their council seat. Someone else would be appointed to the seat until an election in November.

The remaining two years of the mayoral term will be served by the winner of an election next November.

“This is a very unusual situation, and one where there’s not a black and white road map for us to follow, so we’ve been trying to piece together the laws and figure out the procedure,” Bluhm said.

“We’re looking forward, though, to moving on, and we’re looking forward to having a governing body that is able to work together and to act in the best interest of the city of Troy.”

Matt Binkowski, spokesman for the recall effort, is also looking forward to moving on.

“We’re happy that Troy can move past this now and we no longer have to be subjected to Janice Daniels’ divisive and embarrassing comments,” Binkowski said.

He felt as though the city may be able to come together after Daniels’ recall.

“Most people in the city of Troy aren’t on any of these polarizing sides,” he said.

Daniels may no longer be mayor, but she does not plan to fade away from the city’s political landscape.

“Of course (I’ll be active in the city’s politics),” said Daniels, who regularly spoke at Troy City Council meetings before being elected.

“I have my voice back now. They can’t crush me anymore.”

Daniels did not rule out a possible run at political office in the future.

“Anything’s possible,” she said.

But for now, in her first day out of office, she seemed content to be out of the public eye.

“I’m working,” she said.

“I’m a private citizen again. I’m happy.”

When asked if she had anything else to add, Daniels offered a simple message.